The Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) on Saturday said its attention has been drawn to news “circulating in the media, some with the picture of its National Coordinator, Otunba Gani Adams kicking against the plan of pro-Biafra group to stage their protest in Lagos.”
The group said that the reports were reckless and sensitive, noting that the statement cannot be traced to OPC as led by Adams.
OPC Director of media and publicity, Yinka Oguntimehin, said the group never issued any statement against any tribe or body over their right of association or protest as long as such a protest was peaceful and security of lives and property was assured and monitored by security agents.
“The Igbos have a population of over 35 million spread all over the world, some of them have stayed in Lagos and indeed the South West for over 40 years.
“It is not the purview of OPC to deny such people their right to determine their future and membership of the country as contained in the United Nations Self Determination charter of 14 December 1960.
“The United Nations General Assembly adopted General Assembly Resolution 1514 (XV) under titled Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples provided for the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples in providing an inevitable legal linkage between self-determination and its goal of decolonisation, and a postulated new international law-based right of freedom also in economic self-determination.
“Although the Igbos do not allow Yoruba such freedom in their region as they enjoy in South West, it is not a reason to go against their decision to self determination.
“However, if they step out of line allowed in the constitution, the Federal Government should do the needful by making use of the security agencies.
“The position of OPC on self determination is clear as we are in support of true Federalism and Statism, but we are not in anyway against the choice of Ibos to self determination.”
The statement pointed out that one Shina Akinpelu issued the anti-Biafra protest, advising media houses to shun further releases from the name.
“Akinpelu is a dismissed member of the Congress and he has no mandate of the congress to issue any statement,” it concluded.
